Cleveland’s plan for the preseason finale vs. the Rams centers on Joe Flacco handling the opening drive for 25–30 snaps, then Dillon Gabriel, followed by Shedeur Sanders, as Kenny Pickett sits with a hamstring issue. The Browns will feature their 2025 offense early, hoping to gauge both rookie quarterbacks in live setting behind a familiar supporting cast. It’s the first concrete look at the new offense and a bellwether for how Cleveland might deploy its QB depth this season.

With the veterans rotating out and the rookies getting more reps, fans will be nonstop comparing Gabriel and Sanders, watching for timing, decision-making, and arm accuracy. The Rams could dial up a variable starting plan, but Cleveland’s scripted sequence aims to maximize live reps for the rookies while giving Flacco a confident early run. The outcome will feed the quarterback storytelling all season and shape fantasy chatter as August fades into September.

Baltimore is the clear AFC North favorite for 2025, riding a well-rounded roster and Lamar Jackson’s dynamic ceiling. Cincinnati isn’t far behind, with Burrow healthy and the Chase-Higgins duo ready to light up games when the offense clicks. Pittsburgh remains formidable but faces a razor-thin path to a division crown amid a crowded field of playoff-caliber teams. Cleveland enters with stability questions at quarterback, making a title run unlikely in a division populated by two Super Bowl-bound contenders.

RotoWire’s offseason talent-trade scorecard crowns the Miami Dolphins as the league’s biggest loser of 2024-25, posting a staggering -70. Miami watched key contributors exit for options across the league—Raheem Mostert, Jonnu Smith, Kendall Lamm, Robert Jones, plus Ramsey and Walker—while adding Darren Waller and a marquee swap for Minkah Fitzpatrick, which land with about a 65 AV value in 106 games. NFL.com’s draft grade for Miami was a C+, headlined by Kenneth Grant and Jonah Savaiinaea. Minnesota Vikings (-61) and Pittsburgh Steelers (-49) trail behind, then Titans (-37) and Colts (-30). On the flip side, Patriots, Giants, Bills, Bears and Jaguars were the standout winners, led by a powerful Patriots surge (+33) and Giants (+27). The piece wires a clear fantasy through-line: talent drain complicates early-season ceilings for the losers, while winners’ improvements offer clearer paths to value, especially with notable coaching and draft-grade factors shaping early-season upside.

The Panthers will roll with Jack Plummer and Bryce Perkins in Week 3 against the Steelers as Bryce Young sits out, while Pittsburgh plans to flood the field with a number of starters. The betting backdrop favors Pittsburgh at -4.5 with a 35.5 total, and Carolina has yet to find the end zone consistently this preseason. Rodgers not suiting up for Pittsburgh and Carolina’s stagnant offense are the themes, shaping a low-scoring, defensively charged game. The forecast leans toward a Steelers victory around 17-9 and suggests little margin for error on the spread given the QB shuffles and roster depth battles.

From a fantasy angle, this game offers late-round streamer intrigue and sleeper potential in the Panthers’ and Steelers’ rosters. With Young sidelined, Plummer and Perkins will push for depth-chart positions, while Pittsburgh’s defensive unit can capitalize on limited offensive looks. Bettors should consider the under and watch for rust-free aggressiveness from players jockeying for 53-man spots, rather than relying on a shootout pace in this Week 3 showcase.

Thursday kicks off a two-game preseason DFS slate featuring Steelers vs Panthers and Patriots vs Giants. With starters largely rested, fantasy value centers on rookies and fringe roster players who should see extended action. The format rewards raw scoring over price balance, so targets with clear workloads and kickoff/return opportunities have real upside. Steady work from the Steelers defense and opportunistic scoring from the Patriots and Giants backups could push several mid-range plays into solid fantasy nights.

Top QB targets lean into the young guns stepping into extended looks. Jaxson Dart and Joshua Dobbs highlight the slate, with Dart drawing the Giants and Dobbs facing the Patriots. At running back, Trevor Etienne and Dante Miller carry a similar upside due to depth chart ambiguity and likely workload, while at receiver John Jiles, Roman Wilson, and Jimmy Horn Jr. offer cheap, high-upside options amid injuries on the Patriots and Giants rosters. Greg Dulcich remains a potential value at tight end, and Pittsburgh’s DST matchup contrasts nicely with Carolina’s mild scoring pace, making the Steelers a sneaky upside play for a daily fantasy lineup.